About Ecotones Camps in Vellathooval - Anachal Road, Muthuvaankudi, Munnar

The transitional zone between two distinct natural communities, an ecotone is the epitome of change. This aptly sums up the role that Ecotones, our boutique resort, hopes to play in today's fast-paced world: a camp far away from the madding crowd, one that will re-kindle in you the joy of soaking in the captivating beauty of the outdoors. A place where you can transition into the wild and unwind in the lap of nature.

We promise some of the most ethnic experiences in tune with nature and local tradition which are sure to enthrall, excite and enlighten. In short, an escapade that will leave you relaxed, satisfied and yearning for more!

Ecotones was born out of a passion to bring guests closer to nature. While most hotels and resorts utilize the beauty of nature and the wilderness to sell themselves, there are too few that give back to nature or contribute to conservation in any small way. Eco-tourism - responsible travel to natural areas that does not damage the environment, contributes to its conservation, and improves the well-being of local people - is definitely implementable, and Ecotones is an attempt at eco-tourism in the true sense. Guests can indulge in nature-oriented exploratory activities such as bird watching and nature trails. With activities such as cycling and guided nature walks, we hope to take people one step closer to nature - by inculcating an interest for the natural world through observations and learning about its many intricacies.

One very important feature of eco-tourism is local community involvement. At Ecotones, almost ninety percentage of the staff are locals who have been or are being trained according to contemporary tourism standards. Many fruits and vegetables are also sourced locally, so that local farmers and small-time businessmen and women profit from Ecotones, ensuring community involvement. Guests can visit local farmers, interact with them and try their hand at harvesting organic produce.

Ecotones also conducts small programs including awareness sessions about nature and wildlife and informative discussions with locals so that the local community benefits in as many ways as possible. Local clean-up drives and native tree sapling planting programs are also underway. The target of these programs is to reach out to the public about the necessity for nature conservation.

Apart from these features, Ecotones has been built and continues to be managed in the most minimally nature-invasive method as possible. Our mud houses are ample proof of this; we also do not encourage plastic bottles on campus and offer drinking water only in re-usable glass bottles. We do not offer exotic or Continental cuisine: local ethnic food prepared from locally-sourced ingredients is provided to our guests, which also gives clients an opportunity to sample local flavors and delicacies. We believe that even small actions like these can go a long way in preserving the beauty of Munnar and its surroundings, which are gradually degrading due to the enormous pressure of callous and commercial tourism.